Health Insurance and Health Care among Mid-Aged and Older Chinese: Evidence from the National Baseline Survey of CHARLS

Xiaoyan Lei, Peking University
John Strauss, University of Southern California
Chuanchuan Zhang, Peking University
Yaohui Zhao, Peking University

We document recent detailed profile of health insurance and health care among mid-aged and older Chinese using data from CHALRS national baseline survey conducted in 2011-2012. Overall health insurance coverage is about 93% with more than 95% covered by the major three insurance schemes. Descriptive regressions show that respondents with lower income as measured by per capita expenditure (PCE) have lower chance of being insured. Premiums and reimbursement rates of health insurance both vary significantly by schemes. Reimbursement rate increases with total cost except for that for inpatient service for rural people. In general, Chinese people have easy access to median-low level medical facilities such as a community health center or a township health clinic, but there exists a large difference in accessibility of health care facilities between rural and urban areas and between those with different health insurance schemes.